What is Craftworld Iybraesil? (2021 Update)

Initial Thoughts (2017, Revised)

Admittedly, I chose Craftworld Iybraesil for its colour scheme. I always wanted to do the Sky Blue and White theme for an army - initially I wanted it for my Space Marine army, but it did not look right.

Eldar, on the other hand, are appropriate for such a striking colour pair, and as it turned out there was an existing craftworld with a very similar scheme (though the exact shade of blue varies). I use Caledor Sky as the base for my Eldar, but I believe the official colour is more of a dark turquoise.

A short time later, the 6th edition Eldar Codex was released and established the following about Iybraesil:

·        Matriarchal society, with many female Autarchs.

·        High number of Howling Banshee shrines.

·        Obsession with recovering waystones and relics from the Crone Worlds.

And Codex: Craftworlds maintains these points, emphasising their compulsion to collect waystones and the high female-to-male ratio.

Now, for the sake of discussion, I accept that maybe the writer(s) were simply trying to create something different and interesting for a craftworld, with very little thought as to how these aspects connect to each other and the Eldar way. Games Workshop has yet to use Iybraesil in any narrative setting, so ultimately there is little explanation.

Nevertheless, I only wish to move forwards and expand on these established facts about Iybraesil. As I assemble, paint and play with my Craftworld Eldar army, I often wonder two things, and I cannot help but feel that they are critical to what Iybraesil is, and that they are somewhat connected. The two points of thought are:

·        Why are the women in charge of Iybraesil, and;

·        Why are they so obsessed with the Tears of Isha?

I have some ideas and theories, ranging from the mundane to the disturbing, and I'm not yet convinced of any of them. In the meantime I have ideas on conversions to represent the female dominance of Iybraesil's warhosts, and rules and formations for an "Iybraesil" codex/supplement. Whether these things see the light of day remain to be seen...

Follow-Up (2021)

As of the introduction of 9th edition of Warhammer 40000, and having read some Black Library novels and older publications, we now have the following information on Craftworld Iybraesil: 

• A matriarchal (female-dominated) society, which includes many female Autarchs:
• “Iybraesil is a largely matriarchal society, fostering many Howling Banshee shrines and female Autarchs.” - Codex: Eldar, 6th Edition
• A high female-to-male ratio amongst their population, especially for its military; there is an implied link to the legend of Morai-Heg and the craftworld's worship of the goddess:
• “... Iybraesil includes more female warriors within its ranks than any other [Craftworld]” - Codex: Craftworlds, 8th Edition
• “The legends of Iybraesil tell of a pact their ancestors made with the goddess Morai-Heg. Seven times seven of Iybraesil's warrior women became the Crone's deathly handmaidens so their sisters might enjoy especially long and fruitful lives free of her cursing touch. The Craftworld has a disproportionately high female population to this day.” - Codex: Craftworlds, 8th Edition
• A high number of Howling Banshee shrines, who play an integral role in Iybraesil’s military operations:
• “Iybraesil is a largely matriarchal society, fostering many Howling Banshee shrines...”  - Codex: Eldar, 6th Edition
• “For millennia uncounted, the Howling Banshees have formed the vanguard of Iybraesil’s warhosts, falling upon their foes amid a cacophony of paralysing war cries.” - Codex: Craftworlds, 8th Edition
• An obsession with recovering waystones and relics from the Crone Worlds:
• “Dutiful and fierce, the gifted Seers of the Craftworld labour long in their hunt for the hidden secrets of the crone worlds. They hope not only to secure the Tears of Isha, but also ancient technologies and doomsday artefacts that will allow them to tip the balance in the war for survival.” - Codex: Eldar, 6th Edition
• “In these dark times, the people of Iybraesil are driven to hunt for crone worlds...”  - Codex: Craftworlds, 7th Edition
• "Iybraesil’s obsession with the crone worlds has also meant that the waystones harvested by them are often of a particularly rare quality."  - Codex: Craftworlds, 7th Edition
• A strong disapproval of Jain Zar, the Howling Banshee Phoenix Lord, joining the Ynnari; this suggests a general rejection of the Ynnari cause by Iybraesil (or at least its leadership), as well as a high degree of reverence for the Phoenix Lord and her teachings:
• “Iybraesil’s matriarchy sends a strike force of ten Howling Banshee shrines into the Eye of Terror, their mission to track down Jain Zar and remind her that her true duty lies with her Asuryani disciples, rather than the emergent Ynnari cult. None return unchanged by the experience.” - Psychic Awakening - Phoenix Rising
• Implied veneration or worship of the crone goddess Morai-Heg, the legend of her severed hand, and possible rituals or pacts done in her name:
• “Also known as the Hand of Heg, world-rune of Iybraesil is a reference to the Eldar myth wherein Morai-Heg, the Crone, persuades Khaine to sever her hand so that she can drink of the wisdom in her own blood. The Eldar of that craftworld make frequent reference to this act, claiming that no knowledge is truly claimed without sacrifice.” - Codex: Eldar, 6th Edition
• “The story of Morai-Heg teaches all Aeldari that wisdom cannot come without sacrifice. Some craftworlds even take the severed hand of Morai-Heg as their sigil, reminding them that in even the most dire circumstances, legends can be born.” - Psychic Awakening - Phoenix Rising
• “The legends of Iybraesil tell of a pact their ancestors made with the goddess Morai-Heg. Seven times seven of Iybraesil's warrior women became the Crone's deathly handmaidens so their sisters might enjoy especially long and fruitful lives free of her cursing touch. The Craftworld has a disproportionately high female population to this day.” - Codex: Craftworlds, 8th Edition
• "The grey-blue of Craftworld Iybraesil is said to represent the limpid scrying pool of Morai-Heg, the pure white her piercing third eye, and the arterial red the blood she drank from her own wrist for the hidden knowledge contained therein. To its people, this trinity of colours represents the inextricable link between wisdom and sacrifice."  - Codex: Craftworlds, 7th Edition 
• An interest in protecting human lives from malevolent factions (most notably the Dark Eldar operating in Segmentum Obscurus):
• In 437.M38, Eldar Rangers from Craftworld Iybraesil help Imperial colonists on an unnamed world in Segmentum Obscurus to defeat an attack by Dark Eldar raiders. - Warhammer 40000 Battle Missions, 4th Edition
• In 107.M40, Eldar spacecraft of Craftworld Iybraesil destroy a Dark Eldar fleet that had been ravaging the shipping lanes of the Javian Sub-sector, located in Segmentum Obscurus. - Warhammer 40000 Battle Missions, 4th Edition
• Implied frigidity of its populace (at least according to one Alaitocii citizen):
• “‘You gave the impression you were more experienced,’ said Korlandril. ‘I did not realise you were such a babe-at-arms.’; ‘It is you that is the adolescent, newcomer,’ said Arhulesh. ‘Feverish to taste that forbidden pleasure, yet as hesitant as an Iybraesillian maiden on coming to full flower. Be assured that nobody expects you to perform perfectly the first time.’” - Path of the Warrior by Gav Thorpe
• The demonym for Craftworld Iybraesil is Iybraesillian.
• See above.